Receptacle or carton and locking means therefor



MaY'ZS, `1929- c. A. scoTcl-IER 1,715,047

RECEPTACLE OR CARTON AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 18, 1927 Patented May 28, 19,279. p

UNITED STATES CHARLES A.. SCOTCHEB, OF BROOKLINE,

l PATENT- OFFICE MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO S. C. S. BOX

nncnPTAcLE on CARTON AND LOCKING MEANS friannnroa.

Application tiled August 18, 1927. Serial No. 213,804.

My present invention relates to receptacles or containers such .as cartons, boxes or the like, and more particularly. aims to provide in connection therewith improved means for securing the cover or closure in closed position. 'lhis application, as to. all common subject matter, is a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 164,462, filed January 29, 1927.

In the accompanying ing by way of example one my invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box or carton in accordance with one foi-m of the present invention, the cover being partially open;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section upon a larger scale centrally through the carton of Fig. 1 with the cover closed and locked by the securing means; j

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of that portion of the carton at which the securing means is provided, the same being locked as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in cross section illustrating a manner of locking the securing means;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 2 taken through onesecuring or locking unit in the locking position thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the upper portion of a different type of receptacle also embodying one form of my invention. t

Closure retaining means embodying my invention may be variously employed and in connection with receptacles of different types, forms and materials, application above mentioned, is particularly useful in cartons or boxes of card board or like flexible but desirably. self-supporting material, including, for example, egg cartons, pastry and doughnut boxes, candy boxes, etc. The receptacle with which I have chosen to show my invention is the same as that of my co-pending application, being a collapsible carton of the so-called Victor type, similar to that of my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,37 4,- 473, dated April 12, 1921.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and first to Fig. 1, the receptacle or carton there shown comprises a body .5 including a bottom, opposite side and closure member, top, or cover 6 provided with a flange or tuck 7. While, as illustrated, said cover comprises a single piece having the Width of the carton it may be otherwise drawings illustratembodiment of but, as in my copending end walls, and a` formed if desired. In the carton bottom and end end walls is a median line of weakness or score 8 and also in the carton bottom are inclined lines of weakness or scores 9, 9 etc. extending preferably from the corners and forming triangular portions 10, 10.

By reason of said lines of weakness or scores the carton may be collapsed, as in my said patent, bringing the front and rear walls together atwise, the bottom and end walls being infolded along said median lines of weakness. As represented, the end wlalls are provided with flanges or flaps 11, 11 which, in the closed position of the carton, are adapted to serve as stops or supports for the cover and afford additional protection for the contents adjacent the carton ends. The median score 8 is also extended through said flanges 11,11 when present.

Assuming that the carton is in collapsed condition, it may readily be set up by pressure directed downwardly against the score line 8 at any point along the base or where said line extends along the carton end Walls. The carton may then be filled and the end flanges and the cover 6 closed down, bringing the flange` or tuck 7 flatwise against the upper portion of the front side Wall either outside or inside it, preferably inside.

The cover securing means of my present invention is particularly useful in connection with a cover having a flange or tuck such as said member 7 for positioning inside the adjacent carton wall. Referring to th'e 'drawings said means as illustrated comprises a tongue 18 cut out from the tuck 7 and supported along one edge, 19, substantially in the line of fold of the tuck. Said tongue may be of any desired shape, preferably of somewhat decreasing Width downwardly, and terminates in a lower portion or lug 20 of roughly rectangular shape and having oppositely laterally extending ears 21, 21.

The tongue 18 is cut free from the cover `and flange or tuck along its entire periphery with the exception of its line of hinged support 19 so that when the tuck is folded along its hinge line, said tongue is sprung slightly outwardly, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1. On closing the cover and as the tuck is inserted within the adjacent wall of the carton, herein the front wall, the tongue remains at the outside of said wall.

Upon said front wall of the carton, and at herein its upper edgeand inwardly `the flange or tuck 7. lonly draws that wall and the entire tuck a position opposite the lower portion'or lug 20 of the tongue 18, is a formation whereb said lug may be forced inwardly, throng and across the plane of the carton front wall substantially as shown vin Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Said formation may be variously provided but preferably includes an upwardl extending tab 22 supported along one s1de only, herein its bottom side, as at 23, and adapted to be bent inwardly leaving an opening in the carton wall.

One method of fastenin or locking the carton securing means or loc is illustrated in Fig. 4. The lug 2O of the tongue 18 having been brought opposite and outside the tab 22 upon the carton front wall, and the tuck 7 having been inserted within said wall, said lug and tab may be simultaneously thrust inl wardly, as by means of a linger tip, a pencil or any suitable instrument, the point of which is preferably swung somewhat upwardly when within the carton. The lug 20 is thus forced upwardly sufficiently to retain it in the manner of a hook wit-hin t-he carton. In the construction. illustrated the lug is caught and held locked by the upper edge of the inturned tab 22, as shown in cross section in Fig. 2. The width of the lug 20, including the ears 21, 21 if provided, may be varied, so long as the lug can readily bethrust -through the opening provided in the carton wall. Preferably the lug width is slightly in excess of that of the tab 22 and opening formed by it, in which case the lug 20 is retained and the cover locked addltional'ly by reason of the sides of the lug and hereln the ears 21, 2l springing out to either side of the opening made by the lug 22 see Fig. 3.

It will be noted that in operating the closure locking means the sllght pressure necesthrust through the adjacent carton wall and through the opening left by the tongue in Said tongue 18 thus not firmly together, closing the usual gap between them, but also acts to brace the entire carton circumferentially and in all directions transversely making an extremely firm package, substantiallyas if all its walls and cover were continuous and integral, or as if a band or cord were fastened tightly about it. The carton locking means described. if desired, may be employed in connection with securing means such as disclosed in my copending application above mentioned, including a lug 12 hinged at 13 and a cooperating luv 14 oppositely hinged as at 15, one set of suc lug ready described being shown in Fig. 1. vOne s at opposite sides of the lock alunit or set of said securingA elements, locks a larger scale in Fig 5, it will be noted that the lug l2 on the outer carton portion is readily movable throughl or across the inner carton portion through the opening formed bythe cooperating lug 14.- and thereby serves to movement of said portions in an o ening direction, that is,in adirection su stantially in or parallel with the planes of said portions. The relative proportions and arrangementof said lugs may be varied as 'described in specific instances. It will also be understood that any desired number of units or `sets of said devices vmay be employed depend- 1ng mainly on the dimensions of the receptacle, and that they conjunction with the tongue device of Figs.

1 to 4. In some instances one set or unit may be sufficient, these devices being intended for disposal at any point upon the 'receptacle where it is desired to lock two or more adj acent portions having a relative movement from closed position in approximately the plane of one of said portions or substantially parallel thereto. l

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated locking means embodying one form of my invention in connection with a receptacle or box of the usual removable, flanged-cover type, such as a clothing or candy box. The set or sets of cooperating lugs 12 on the body 16. of the res ceptacle, and 14 on the may be` provided in any one, or more, or all of' the receptacle side walls, and may be constructed and proportioned in a mannerv similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. My invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown and described, its scope being set forth in the following claims.

I claim- 1. In a receptacle of llcxible material including a body and a closure having a'flange nected to the closure substantially in the line of the upper edge of the flange, said tongue adapted to be positioned outside said body wall and having a lowerv portion adapted to be bent inwardly, and a cooperating formation on the body wall opposite said lower tongue portion comprising a lug cut out from said body wall and hinged thereto along its lower edge, said lower tongue portion and said lug being adapted to be thrust inwardly together, broadside and at substantially right angles to the plane of the wall, said lug engaging said lower tongue portion to retain it in said inward or cover-locking position.

2. In a c artonl having a bottom and side walls, a cover having a tuck for insertion closure element 17,

prevent relative may be used alone or in i 7 position, said lug withinand liatwise against one side wall, a

is inserted', an inwardly bendable lug at the lower end of sald tongue, and a cooperating cut-out formation on said carton wall to allow said lug to be thrust b through said wall and thr the tuck left by the cutting out of said tongue and lug, whereby the cover tuck and the adjacent carton 'wall are drawn together substantially to close any gap between them and the carton is braced transversely thereof, the cover being at the same time lockedJ in closed having lateral portions of a total width exceeding that of said cut-out formation on said carton wall, said lateral portions adapted to yield to permitsaid inoadside inwardly thrusting of the lug and then to re-open to prevent withdrawal of said lug.

3. In combination with a plurality of carton portions juxtaposed in approximately parallel planes, means to secure said portions against relative movement substantially in or parallel to said prising a plurality o opposed and oppositely hinged lugs, respectively cut out from dierent ones of said portions, and arranged to be simultaneously thrust inwardly by a force applied at substantially right angles to said carton portions.

ugh the opening 1n i planes, said means com-- 4. A receptacle comprising a body and a closure, the latter having a flange or the like at an angle to its main portion adapted to be positioned iatwise adjacent a portion of the carton body in the covering position of said closure, a hinged lug on said ange, a similar lufg on said adjacent portion of the carton body having its hinge line substantially diametrically opposite to that of said first lug, said lugs coming opposite each other in the covering positlon of the closure and adapted to be thrust inwardly together to retain the latter in said covering position.

5. In a carton having a cover includlnga body and a depending 'strip at one edge thereof, and having a wall adjacent which said strip is positioned latwise in the closed position of the cover, a lug on the cover hingedly supported along one of its edges and free along the remainder of its periphery, and a similar lug on the carton wall, opposite said cover-carried lu but hinged along a diametrically opposlte edge, said lugs adapted to be thrust inwardly together across the planes of said wall and strip, moving respectively about their opposed hinged edges, into a position wherein they resist relative movement of said cover strip and wall away from each other in their respective planes and wherein one lug locks the other in said restraining position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciication.

CHARLES A. SCOTCHER. 

